Abia police warns – “Anybody found with Biafra flag will be arrested”

Pro-Biafra supporters shout slogans in Aba, southeastern Nigeria, during a protest calling for the release of a key activist on November 18, 2015. The protesters support the creation of a breakaway state of Biafra in the southeast and want the release of Nnamdi Kanu, who is believed to be a major sponsor of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and director of the pirate radio station Radio Biafra. AFP PHOTO / PIUS UTOMI EKPEI (Photo credit should read PIUS UTOMI EKPEI/AFP/Getty Images)

Anybody found in possession of the Biafra flag or any of its emblems will be arrested, the Abia state police has warned.

The Abia State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Anthony Ogbizi warned that any arrested persons would be charged to court.

Ogbizi stated this while parading 7 suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB. He explained that with the proscription of the group by the South East governors, it has becomes illegal for anyone to operate under IPOB or adorn Biafra emblems.

He lamented that one of the injured officers, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP, serving at the Ariaria Police Station has died out of the injuries he sustained during the attack.

Northern Elder’s Forum supports military action in Abia

In related news, the National Publicity Secretary of the Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF), Professor Ango Abdullahi has thrown his weight behind the military invasion of Abia State under the on-going operation tagged Operation Python Dance II.

According to him, it was the responsibility of security agencies to take on the challenges. And these include those threatening the peace of the country in whole or in part.

Speaking with Journalists in Abuja on Friday, Abdullahi said: “My take is that it is the duty of the security agencies to take on any challenges threatening the peace of the country in whole or in part.

“Some agitations have been going on in the South East for quite a while. And the military has a constitutional role, mandate and instructions to tackle it.

“It is the responsibility of one of the security agents in the country.

“The military have a system of taking command in terms of where they go. And where they don’t go, what they do when they get there and so on and so forth. So I take it that the military are where they are now for obvious reasons.

“I believe the military are there in the northeast, they are dealing with issues of insurgency and Boko Haram. I believe we have military personnel in the Niger Delta for various reasons. And this particular engagement of the military where the exercise of the dance of the python.”